NEW GLARUS - Monroe High School football coach Toby Golembiewski learned a lot about his team during its first live action, a scrimmage in New Glarus on Friday.
The Cheesemakers, the defending Badger South Conference champions, competed with New Glarus-Monticello, Evansville-Albany and Platteville. The Cheesemakers ran 20 offensive and 20 defensive plays against each team in the scrimmage.
Golembiewski said the Cheesemakers treated the event like a dress rehearsal.
"I think we got to see a lot of things we knew would happen, like our older guys playing really well, and we saw some foul-ups," Golembiewski said. "The new guys were really nervous. I definitely don't think we had as many foul-ups as last year because the guys know the offense."
Golembiewski stressed not to put too much stock in scoring during a scrimmage because different players are used in new combinations, and they are learning to gel as a team and offensive and defensive units.
"Some people are up there (in the stands) counting touchdowns and keeping score," Golembiewski said. "This was different than a real game. There is a lot more that goes into it. You just look to make sure everyone is doing their assignment every play."
Having the opportunity to run 60 offensive and 60 defensive plays in the scrimmage allows coaches to teach and help players fine-tune schemes and fundamentals before the season kicks off.
"We went against two smaller schools and a school like Evansville-Albany that is in our division (Division 3) that we could see in the playoffs," Golembiewski said. "We want to avoid pre-snap penalties and turnovers. We want to make sure we have 11 guys in the huddle. It's the small things that could cost you a game. We don't want to beat ourselves."
Golembiewski said the most important part of the scrimmage is that the Cheesemakers came out of it healthy and ready for the season opener at Reedsburg at 7 p.m. Friday. The season opener for the Cheesemakers is a rematch of a first-round WIAA playoff game last year when Monroe knocked off the Beavers 21-0.
"They (Reedsburg) have a really good program," Golembiewski said. "They have been in the playoffs like six straight years. I know the team who doesn't put the ball on the ground as much will win."
The Cheesemakers, the defending Badger South Conference champions, competed with New Glarus-Monticello, Evansville-Albany and Platteville. The Cheesemakers ran 20 offensive and 20 defensive plays against each team in the scrimmage.
Golembiewski said the Cheesemakers treated the event like a dress rehearsal.
"I think we got to see a lot of things we knew would happen, like our older guys playing really well, and we saw some foul-ups," Golembiewski said. "The new guys were really nervous. I definitely don't think we had as many foul-ups as last year because the guys know the offense."
Golembiewski stressed not to put too much stock in scoring during a scrimmage because different players are used in new combinations, and they are learning to gel as a team and offensive and defensive units.
"Some people are up there (in the stands) counting touchdowns and keeping score," Golembiewski said. "This was different than a real game. There is a lot more that goes into it. You just look to make sure everyone is doing their assignment every play."
Having the opportunity to run 60 offensive and 60 defensive plays in the scrimmage allows coaches to teach and help players fine-tune schemes and fundamentals before the season kicks off.
"We went against two smaller schools and a school like Evansville-Albany that is in our division (Division 3) that we could see in the playoffs," Golembiewski said. "We want to avoid pre-snap penalties and turnovers. We want to make sure we have 11 guys in the huddle. It's the small things that could cost you a game. We don't want to beat ourselves."
Golembiewski said the most important part of the scrimmage is that the Cheesemakers came out of it healthy and ready for the season opener at Reedsburg at 7 p.m. Friday. The season opener for the Cheesemakers is a rematch of a first-round WIAA playoff game last year when Monroe knocked off the Beavers 21-0.
"They (Reedsburg) have a really good program," Golembiewski said. "They have been in the playoffs like six straight years. I know the team who doesn't put the ball on the ground as much will win."
